Lantana plant named ‘Balucyeli24’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balucyeli24’, characterized by its deep yellow-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balucyeli24’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantanaplant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balucyeli24’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during June 2019. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Lantana cultivars have attractive flowercoloration, dark green foliage, and a moderately vigorous,mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camarabreeding selection coded 19299, not patented, characterized by itsmedium yellow-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, lowgrowth vigor and semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent ofthe new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selectioncoded 3930-A, not patented, characterized by its medium yellow andorange colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, low growthvigor and semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination during April 2020 in a controlled environment inGuadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceApril 2020 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Arroyo Grande, Calif. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balucyeli24’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Deep yellow-colored inflorescences;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having more inflorescences per plant, increased growthvigor and a mounded-spreading growth habit unlike the semi-uprightgrowth habit of the female parent. Plants of the new cultivar differfrom plants of the male parent primarily in having increased growthvigor, deep yellow-colored inflorescences and a mounded-spreading growthhabit unlike the medium yellow and orange colored inflorescences and thesemi-upright growth habit of the male parent.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Lucky Pot of Gold ‘Balucgold’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,634. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balucgold’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers per        inflorescence than plants of ‘Balucgold’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a yellow petal color        different from the yellow-orange petal color of plants of        ‘Balucgold’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a more mounded-spreading        growth habit than plants of ‘Balucgold’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balucyeli24’. The plants were approximately 5-months old. The plantswere grown in twelve inch hanging baskets for approximately 11 weeks inan outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given three pinchesprior to transplant and one application of Daminozide at 2500 ppm afterthe first pinch.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balucyeli24’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of‘Balucyeli24’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in August 2022 under naturallight conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in twelve inch hanging baskets for approximately 11weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were giventhree pinches prior to transplant and one application of Daminozide at2500 ppm after the first pinch. Prior to transplant plants were grown ina polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 75° F. to 80° F. (24° C. to 27° C.)during the day and approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18° C. to 21° C.)during the night. Supplemental lighting was used for first four weeksafter sticking. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara ‘Balucyeli24’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection            coded 19299, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection            coded 3930-A, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 35            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-spreading.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 32.0 cm. Width: Approximately 67.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances            branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 3            basal branches with 6 main lateral branches.        -   Lateral branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength:            Strong, becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately            33.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 146B to            146C. Color of mature stem: 146B, becomes woody 199A to 199B            with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 16. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.            Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 6.6 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            3.2 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately scabrous.            Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture            of scabrous and glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage:            Closest to 137A with venation of 146B to indistinguishable.            Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest            to 147B with venation of 146C. Color of upper surface of            mature foliage: Closest to 137A with NN137A and venation of            146B to indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with a            mixture of scabrous and glandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balucyeli24’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 2 to 3 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Hemispherical head, axillary or            terminal. Quantity per plant: Approximately 64. Fragrance:            Strong, spicy. Aspect: Primarily facing upward or outward.            Height: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width: Approximately 3.5 cm.            Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 30.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.            Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm to            4.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in            progression from the margin to the center of the            inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per            plant: Approximately 60.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at            apex. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm. Color: 13C.        -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals.            Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape:            Obovate. Appearance: Matte. Aspect: Flat to cupped. Margin:            Entire, ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from            throat: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of upper petal:            Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately            4.0 mm. Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately            5.0 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:            Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface when first open:            13A. Color of lower surface when first open: 13C. Color of            upper surface when fully open: 13A, fading to 13B with age.            Color of lower surface when fully open: 13D.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter at tube            opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent at            tube opening transitioning to glabrous at base. Color of            pubescence 13C. Color of inner surface: 13D. Color of outer            surface: 13D with base of 145D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer            surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner and outer            surfaces: 145D.        -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:            Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent.            Color of upper surface: 146B with base of 145D. Color of            lower surface: 146C with base of 145D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, adnate            to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther            shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 8D.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length:            Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145A. Style length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Style color: 155D, translucent. Ovary            diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Lantana has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plantnamed ‘Balucyeli24’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.